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We are all consumers, but are you a responsible consumer or a compulsive consumer?
We are all consumers, but are you a responsible consumer or a compulsive consumer?
First, let's define what do we understand by consumerism? Consumerism is the acquisition, purchase and / or accumulation of products and services. Now, what is happening with consumerism? For some years, consumerism has been getting out of control, people buy more and more articles and goods because they can and want, not because they need them. This simple as it may seem, is having a large-scale impact. The amount of resources used, the amount of waste generated and the online economy that many still manage put our environment at risk and the availability of resources needed for the future.
Black Friday
Consumerism dates back years; For decades (to be more exact the 60's) "Black Friday" has been celebrated in the United States, but what is it? Black Friday is called the last Friday of November, which is when the Fall season ends and the Winter season begins; This is due to the fact that this change of season brings an increase in prices due to the celebrations and festivities that lie ahead. The stores take deep discounts and prepare the consumer for a rather considerable price hike. They find the offers very attractive and encourage them to buy.
A great opponent known as "Green Friday" is born to this compulsive consumerism, which arises to counteract excessive consumption, seeking that consumers make conscious, sustainable, ethical and committed purchases with the environment.
Let's know a little more about "Green Friday"
Green Friday is supported by WWF, Ecoservices, ECODES and the European Commission. Its objective is to create awareness in citizens about the need to learn to consume responsibly.
In these times people buy to buy, not because they need it; according to an article in The Guardian "Black Friday" is the busiest shopping day of the year in the US ". The concern not only focuses on waste and compulsive consumerism, it also focuses on the serious consequences that are having derived from the lack of awareness of the people. In 2008 in New York a Walmart worker died trampled by people entering the store.
What consequences does compulsive consumerism generate?
Greenhouse gas emission generation
Deforestation
Sterile soils
Increase in diseases
Product shortage
Ecological balance factor
Destruction of ecosystems
How to know if I am a compulsive user?
Very easy, answer Yes or No to each of the following questions:
When I have money, the first thing I think about is what am I going to buy?
Do I buy things for pleasure and not for necessity?
Do I take advantage of the offers when I see them even though I don't need the item? total, at some point I may need it
Do I sometimes deny that I buy some things so that they do not judge me?
Does shopping destress me?
Are there days when I wake up with the need to go out and buy something?
Have I come to think that I shouldn't have bought that thing that I liked so much?
Can't I leave a store or shopping center without having bought something?
Am I signed up for offers pages? it can be a good opportunity to buy something
Do I buy products that I like knowing that I have little money?
If you answered yes to at least one of the questions, you are a compulsive user.
How can I be a responsible consumer?
1.Contributes to a circular economy, which is based on replacing "Waste" with "Recycling"; By doing this, we again obtain "Resources" that we can use in the production of some other product.
2.Eat what you need.
3. Exchange, reuse and repair
4.Consume ecological products (0km proximity products)
5.Avoid products with excess packaging
6. Consume fair trade products.
7. Replace the supermarket with the local market.
8.Opt for reusable products.
9.Use green energy.
10. Don't buy disposable products.
-November 7 "Green Friday"-
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